We’ve seen a few smart deadlock options at CES so far, including some aimed at retrofitting traditional locks. Kwikset is one of these companies with a solution, and now has a version of its Kevo line with a name representing exactly what it does: the Kevo Convert.

Very little installation is required. All you do is replace the interior portion of the deadbolt with Kwikset’s smart locking mechanism. That’s it. Just like other Kevo locks, Kevo’s app allows you to lock and unlock your old dumb lock just like any smart lock, including remotely via the Internet and when in range of the lock via smartphone or wearable through Bluetooth.

Kevo’s app also gives information on lock status, and you can assign temporary or permanent access to Kevo Convert locks. Fair warning: remote unlocking is only available to subscribers of Kwikset’s Kevo Plus service.

What I like most about this lock retrofit solution—versus others like the Danalock—is the fact that the exterior mechanism doesn’t change. My family’s home is a 1920’s Sears and Roebuck kit, so there’s a few folksy things, including antique style doors and whatnot, that would make a modern smart lock with keypad and all look a little out of place.

Even so, this house is getting a new life through smart home connectivity, and the Kevo Control seems the most appealing. Better yet, it does interface with several connected home technologies including Nest and Honeywell Total Control thermostats and the Ring Video Doorbell, and I’m hoping with platforms like Iris, SmartThings, and Wink down the road.

Kwikset plans to release the Kevo Convert later this year, although has not set a retail price yet. It should however cost less than current Kevo locks, which retail for $170-220 depending on who you buy it from.

This story, "Kevo Convert makes your dumb locks smart on the cheap" was originally published by
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